Yorkeys Knob 25th - 31st July

Avoiding the Wind, Re-stocking and R & R

When we booked into Half Moon Bay Marina we expected that strong winds would be blowing for several days. In fact there were only two days that were horrible with the SE howling and the sea turning a muddy uninviting brown colour. Ric and Val, who were originally docked in the Bluewater Marina just around the corner and up a narrow, shallow creek, joined us at Half Moon Bay Marina after two days. Peter took a photo of them exiting the creek on their way here. We felt it was too shallow for us to enter safely and we have not changed our minds on this one. The manager of this marina is apparently grumpy and ill tempered so we will continue to avoid it.

On windy Friday we all took the bus to Palm Cove for lunch. Although windy, once off the beach front, the magnificent trees and gardens sheltered us from the worst of the wind as we walked along peering into the restaurants and shops. What we couldn't believe was the 'No Swimming - Crocodiles etc' signs along the beach front and then no more that 100m further along was the yellow and red flags and the "Swim between the flags' sign. This part of the beach looked the same as the rest so maybe the crocs are trained here and don't swim between the flags. I wouldn't have gone near the water in any case as it was a rough, dirty brown whipped up by the wind.

As Ric says, 'The crocs here know they are only allowed at this end of the beach at Palm Cove'

Palm Cove. The lifesavers are halfway down the beach!!

 

One evening we had Ric and Val over for Thai Red Chicken Curry for dinner. We had drinks and nibbles in the cockpit and I had a brainwave - an idea for a cockpit table where we could all reach our drinks and nibbles with out the constant passing. Ric, the builder, had all the materials, tools etc to make the table and the next day presented us with it. Now we will have to have them over again to christen it. Thank you Ric. I need to borrow you for back in Albany sometime.

The table

Tomorrow we intend to pack the icebox with ice when the yacht club opens at 8am and set sail for the Low Isles off Port Douglas. There are two days before the wind is forecast at up to 28kns again so we will probably leave the Low Isles early for Cooktown and shelter there if it eventuates. From Cooktown, Lizard Island is a day sail away.


An Odd Sign!!!



Secret Garden Fitzroy Island

Does any one else find this is a bit odd! It seems to me that  several issues are raised here:

• I thought it was rainforest that was endangered. On the radio the next day, in fact, we heard how there was little of it left.
• Biodiversity? I thought the rainforest had the most biodiversity of all.
• Are they saying that the eucalypt woodland is endangered?
• What was here before the Aborigines came? 60,000 years is a blink of the eye in the history of the planet.
• Why is their method of land management ie 'scorched earth' any better than any other? 
• Sparks and wildfires don't need an excuse to light a fire. They set fire to uninhabited islands here all the time. Why?

 

 

Eight Days to Yorkeys Knob 19th - 26th July

Horseshoe Bay to Mourilyan Harbour

Although the weather at Magnetic Island looked misty and dull, with visibility of  only a couple of miles, we thought that the wind was favourable for us to begin our trip north. We made good time across The Paddock to the Palm Islands, with the help of the motor, so we decided to continue on by taking the route up the Hinchinbrook Passage and anchor for the night behind Haycock Island. A quick look at the tide table informed us that the tide was two hours above low.  As we had a rising tide we decided to give the bar a go as the sun was sinking lower in the sky and we didn't want to be arriving in the dark. The shallowest area is not far beyond a line from the end of the sugar loading jetty which is about three nm long. We lined up the leads and carefully followed them realising that there would not be much water under the keel. My hawk eyes were glued to the echo sounder.  Alarmingly it went into the low 2m zone then shortly afterwards had trouble sounding anything as the stirred up muddy water sent it into meltdown. A second or two later we felt the jolt of mother earth contacting the keel. Rene almost came to a halt, but then freed herself and then touched briefly twice more before entering deeper water. We were touching sand and the tide was rising, but it is not a good feeling bumping the bottom in any circumstances. Next time we will wait at least three or four hours after low tide before entering, especially if the tidal range is large.

A 'Misty Moisty Morning' at Haycock Island

It rained most of the night at Haycock Island and once again we were not able to see the majesty of the mountains on Hinchinbrook Island. A still, rain misted morning saw us motoring north up the channel to our destination at Dunk Island. We arrived at Dunk Island just after lunch to find Arkaydes and three other boats anchored south of the sand spit. We dropped anchor there as well because of the reported uncomfortable swell rolling into Brammo Bay. The weather was showery but calm, so we had a reasonably comfortable night. Large earth moving machinery, diggers, trucks etc were digging and carting huge loads of sand from the sand spit back to the jetty area where constant erosion washes away the sand leaving the jetty disconnected from the island. This seems to be a never ending job as every time we visit they have either just dumped more sand there or are about to do so. We caught up with Ric and Val and joined Andrew and Trish for sundowners on their beautiful catamaran, Sengo.

The never ending job at Dunk Island

The next morning Rene and Arkaydes left Dunk early for the short trip of 20nm to Mourilyan Harbour. On approach to Kent Island, which we rounded to the east, we had a radio message from Ric that we had whales between the island and us and to keep a lookout. We did! Suddenly not more than 10m from Rene was the huge black bulk of a whale body almost submerged in the water beside us. I noticed it first when it took a breath. Peter shot out from below as he heard my exclamation. 'It's dead!' he said. 'NO it's NOT!' I said and at that point it took another breath and disappeared below the surface.  I suppose we interfered with it's peaceful afternoon nap.


Fitzroy Island to Yorkeys Knob

Fizroy Island   The view from Rene

Last year, when we sailed past Fitzroy Island, the wind was howling and we decided to sail onto Trinity Inlet, Cairns for shelter. This year the weather was perfect for a stop over and as the weather stayed perfect we remained anchored in the bay for three nights. Years ago when we borrowed Clive's Border Riever, a Cavalier 32, we anchored here for a couple of nights with Greg and Karin and my sister Linda. At certain stages of the tide we found we rolled unremittingly causing all the contents of cupboards to clatter and clang which allowed none of us to sleep. Considering this we thought any sign of rolling and we would make haste for Yorkeys Knob Marina. The calm weather continued and we did not have to escape. Fitzroy is another beautiful Queensland tourist island which appears to have a thriving resort and a lovely day tripper bar where you can get food, coffee and drinks. There are several short walks and  two much longer steep walks to the lighthouse and The Summit. We did both and enjoyed the view from above looking both north and south along the coast. We snorkled over the reef near the shore. (the thought of crocodiles and sharks keep me close to other people - better chance on someone else being picked off!!!) The coral and fish were interesting, although not as lovely as some other places we have seen.




Near The Summit, Fitzroy Island

On the way to The Summit

 

We anchored in 10m of water as there is little room in less depth and that was already taken by other boats. Although the bottom looked flat on the echo sounder there must have been coral or rock down there as it took some manoeuvring to get the anchor out to leave. At last we were free and then we had a quiet sail to Yorkeys Knob. We have decided to book in here for a week as strong winds are forecast for a few days and we need to reprovision for our trip north to Lizard Island.

Ric, Val and Liz enjoying a pre-dinner drink, Fitzroy Island

Bouncing About in Horseshoe Bay, Mgnetic Island 16th - 18th July

Departing Breakwater Marina, Townsville in the drizzly rain

 

Whatever happened to 'Amazing North Queensland - beautiful one day perfect the next'? There has been a lot of unseasonal rain this year. The up side is that this delightful island is clothed in lush, green foliage and the dry, parched look has been banished for a while. Since I arrived back here from a three week sojourn back home, Peter and I have been watching the weather forecast closely with the realisation that our departure north will be delayed. We would rather stay here in 15 - 25mm of rain than endure the 50-100mm forecast for just a short distance further north. The wind has not been strong, but is contrary, coming from most directions during our two day stay here. At the moment it is a steady 10 - 15kns from the NE. The problem with that is that a sloppy swell is now running into the bay causing us to roll about like a pig wallowing in the mud puddle.

A nasty little surf is breaking on the shore and Peter has been regaling me with bits of information about the rescue of a large dinghy that has been sunk and then smashed on the shore by the waves. A second dinghy is submerged further along the beach, but as it hasn't a motor on it, no-one is taking pity on it just yet. Looks like coffee will be on board this morning. Oops! That was a particularly violent roll and the sink is now full of all the dirty washing up that was on the bench top and now the books are flapping about on the floor. Maybe it's best they stop there for the time being. Typing is a tad difficult as my fingers 'fly' across the keyboard hitting the wrong keys.

Sunset, Horseshoe Bay, before the rain sets in

We have spent the last two days walking some of the lovely bush tracks across the island to Nelly and Picnic Bays. At least here we can walk for miles and get coffee and cake for our efforts. Another reason for us to wait here until this weather sorts itself out. Yesterday we walked to Picnic Bay to take a photo of the place where my Peter Lawson painting was commissioned. It is a beautiful view looking back towards Townsville. Afterwards we decided to have lunch at Noodies on the Beach at Horseshoe Bay. I was so looking forward to our Mexican lunch, but it was a disappointment - took forever and the portion was small and not that tasty. What happened to the chilli? Next time I'll take Peter's advice and do fish and chips.

My painting was executed right here

It looks like we'll be here for a day or two more until this weather sorts itself out, then we will be making a break for Yorkeys Knob, just north of Cairns, in a quick succession of day sails as we've already been as far a Dunk Island with Audrey in June.

Peter inspects the wreck in Picnic Bay